Mumbai, March 06:
Pune lad Aryaman Singh has made winning a habit on the golf links. The 9-year-old Aryaman has set new records in the history of Junior Golf in India, by topping the Order of Merit for three consecutive years. The youngster, whose ambition is to win the ‘majors’, has already done remarkably well on the domestic circuit by winning every tournament in the Indian Golf Union (IGU) - West Zone.
The young Pune golfer bagged the Indian Golf Union - West Zone ‘Order of Merit’ in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He has the distinction of winning every tournament that he participated in so far.
Last year was all the more impressive as Aryaman barely aged 9, competed with boy’s in the Under-11 age category in events at Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Vadodara. Aryaman stood tall and went on to win every tournament that year which culminated in winning the ‘Order of Merit’ for the third consecutive year, which is a commendable feat.
“Aryaman himself is so dedicated and committed that he wants to break age barriers by competing in higher age group events in the coming years”, said his father Rohit Singh who has been backing Aryaman to the hilt.
Aryaman has now sets his sights on new records in 2017. He aims to maintain his winning streak in India, while also getting more international exposure. His plan includes representing India and playing more international tournaments.
It has been no looking back for the Vibgyor High student, who picked up his first set of golf clubs at the age of 3. His foray into competitive golf began at age 5, when he competed at Club Level Tournaments in the Under-9 category. He started off with a hat trick, winning all his first three tournaments at the club level.
At age 6, he began competing in the Indian Golf Union sanctioned West Zone Tournaments. At his first West Zone tournament at BPGC, Mumbai, barely 6, he competed with kids aged under 9, and finished first runner-up.
His next milestone was winning the 52nd Albatross Western India Hank Haney, a pre-qualifier for the Asian Tournament of Champions in the Under-9 years category. In all his tournaments he has competed with older kids and in a game that rewards consistency, Aryaman's strength has been his impeccable short game.
Apart from domestic success, he has also forayed into International tournaments. In July 2013, aged 6, he became the youngest Indian to qualify and represent India at the 2 most prestigious junior world golf championships - the Callaway Junior World Championship in San Diego, California, and the US Kids World Golf Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He represented India in the World Championships for 3 years.
The Callaway World Championship has a field size of 1200 participants from 50 countries, while the US kids World Championship has a field size of 1800 participants from 56 countries. Aryaman was the youngest member of the Indian contingent at both the tournaments.
Aryaman had a great round and finished in the Top 15 at the Callaway Junior World Championship, and a Top 20’s finish at the US Kids Golf Championships – the highest achieved by an Indian in this category. Aryaman’s best moments were meeting US Kids President & CEO, Dan Van Horn, and receiving two Certificates of Achievement, one Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, and the other recognizing him as one of the world’s best young golfers.
In 2015 in the Golf Junior Olympics in California, US, he shot even par rounds on his second and third day of the tournament and had a Top 5 finish.
He has been working with the best coaches from around the world, right from an early age. He works regularly with Justin Parsons, Director of Instruction at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, Dubai. He also works with Mark Roe, and Dave Stockton, two of the best short game coaches in the world.